NYGMS

Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year From New York Marketing!

With the new year approaching, we are taking time to reflect on 2017. New York Marketing is looking back on the past year and reflecting on all we have learned. Out of all the things we are grateful for, we are most grateful for our clients. Between the clients we began doing business with this year, the ones who have continued to stay loyal to us for multiple years, and for future clients, we would not have been as successful without you.

A message to all of our clients, big and small:

Thank you for choosing New York Marketing this year. Whether you wanted a simple flyer, asked us to photograph your wedding or continue to rely on us for your monthly marketing, we are appreciative of your trust in us. At New York Marketing, we are committed to reaching your goals while also helping you stand out from the crowd. Thank you for working with us to meet the objectives you have set for your business. We hope you continue to see our dedication to doing our best as your marketing team.

We’ve come through the year that was filled with challenges and victories. After a successful 2017, we are looking forward to the new year and the new opportunities that are coming our way! We hope to continue to impress with our commitment to excellence and high-quality work. Here’s to 2018 and another year of success for all of our clients and New York Marketing!

Those of us living in areas with four seasons can feel a little spoiled when autumn comes around. Taking pictures during the fall can feel like cheating. Not only are there an abundance of colors, but there is also amazing light. It can seem hard to take a bad picture with Mother Nature seemingly on your side. When captured right, autumn can create images that are the envy of everyone. However, that does not mean you should get lazy and complacent. Fall is a great time to take portraits, but sometimes creating unique photos can be challenging. Here are a few tips to make the most out of your fall photo shoot!

Location

The location should be one of the first things you think about for your photo shoots. This is especially true for autumn when things can change rather quickly. Leaves can change over a couple of days and it can be hard to find your perfect autumn colors if you wait too late or go out too early. Heavy winds or frost can take them down overnight, so while one day may be perfect, the next could not. Scout out your location close to your photo shoot date. Don’t let a whole week pass between your scouting trip. Time is of the essence and you don’t want to be left with a bare skeletal arrangement if you wait too long. Some sections of parks can even close down for the winter. Plus, the weather can be pretty fickle at this time of year. A perfectly sunny day can turn into a torrential rainstorm in a matter of hours. The Weather Channel is your friend. They even have this nifty regional guide that lets you know what phase the leaves are in.

The Perfect Spot

When looking for a spot, find one that screams fall! If you live in an area with a lot of trees, go for a drive and search for the perfect spot. Apple orchards are great go-to locations. If you have children, they will love climbing the trees! You can also have them go under the trees, between rows, and even have a quick snack if you get hungry. Another amazingly-autumn option is a pumpkin patch with plenty of pumpkins, gourds, hay bales, and wagons. Bear in mind that sometimes you have to pay for the use of a farm for professional photos. However, most of the time simply asking ahead will suffice.

Preparation

For any shoot, the key is to be prepared. It’s a no-brainer that you should come with your camera equipment charged, with cards, and clean gear, but that can be overlooked. Clearing cards can be stressful, so make sure you have plenty of backups. If your card still has optimal space on it, don’t clear it off unless you absolutely have to. If you are clearing your cards, use the Format function (in the camera) that will give you a completely clear card. There are rumors that deleting single images in-camera can lead to corrupting the card, so it’s best to use the Format function.

Part of being prepared is knowing the perfect time to shoot. Hands-down sunrise and sunset give the best light. If you don’t want to drag yourself out of bed at the crack of dawn, aim to start shooting about an hour before sunset. The Golden Hour is favored by many because the light is more flattering and you may even get a great sunset. Look for sunset times in your area. The days start to get shorter in autumn and you’ll want at least an hour of shooting before the sun goes down.

Wardrobe

It may seem obvious, but it is important that your clients know to dress for the weather. However, you may have a tough time convincing them that a sweater is a good wardrobe choice for a shoot. While it may be warm one afternoon, it can get cold pretty quickly once the sun starts to go down. Explain how important body language is and how difficult it is to nail a shot when they’re shivering. Avoid clothing with dominant logos. As much as everyone loves Star Wars, this can date an image and be very distracting. The best wardrobe is neutral and basic, so it doesn’t fight for attention with your awesome fall backdrop and the expressions of the people in the photo. Try to avoid clashing colors among your subjects and maybe come up with a color theme. Have everyone bring a few changes of clothes with them. Not only will this provide variety in your image, but when conditions can be wet and muddy, especially if you have children, you may need them.

Pumpkins and Other Fun Props

With so many seasonal props available, use them to your advantage. Warm quilts, coffee mugs, hay bales, stacks of wheat, mums, and even campfires are all synonymous with fall. Plus, most of these items can be found at your local farmers market, borrowed from a family member or friend, found at yard sales, or bought from thrift stores. Pumpkins are also standard fall props. Gather up a bunch and set them around your subjects or place them in a wagon with kids. If you’re taking pictures with a baby, try cleaning out a pumpkin and placing the child inside. Another, possibly too obvious, idea is using leaves. Rake up a huge pile of leaves and ask the children to jump in them or lay in the center of the pile. Try to get up high above the subject and shoot down. You can also have kids and adults throw leaves in the air. Just make sure your camera is set on continuous shooting to capture as much of the action as possible.

At New York Marketing, we offer professional photography and video packages for all of your events and fundraisers, as well as headshots, product shots, portraits, and more. Get high-quality prints directly shipped to your home or office.

The End of an Era

In its glory days, the “World’s Largest Record Store” had multiple locations located in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Rochester, Syracuse and Buffalo. Now down to one on the corner of Main Street and Lafayette, it is truly the end of an era for Record Theatre. August 27 marks the day Record Theatre will close its doors after 41 years. Word of the final store’s closing came in June, a few months after the death of founder, Lenny Silver.

When he opened the first Record Theatre store, Silver already had over 20 years in the music industry. Silver started his career as a stockboy for a record store in Rochester. At 17 he joined the Navy and served as a radio operator in the South Pacific during WWII. After the war, Mr. Silver returned to the store and rose from stock boy to sales to buyer. In 1954, Silver moved to Buffalo to work at a record distribution company and eventually start his own wholesale business in 1964. His business would become the fourth largest record distribution company in the country.

Having a hand in every aspect of the record industry gave Silver an advantage. In the way it operated and the way it appealed to multiple generations, Record Theatre was a trend setting store. Silver’s business model has had a huge influence on the industry as we know it today. Record Theatre opened its first store in 1976 at 1800 Main Street. In the late 70’s it was the largest record store in the world, measuring 25,000 square feet of retail space. Through the years stores would open and close in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo. At the time of Silver’s death, there were only two left; University Plaza, which closed earlier this year, and the original on Main Street.

What’s Next?

Transcontinent Record Sales owns the building and the building across the street where the company’s offices are. Both properties will be put up for sale andTranscontinent Record Sales will move their office to a new building. The remaining inventory will be sold either via an online auction or through an online store. Record Theatre will also continue to own Amherst Records, a label which sold millions of albums, earning Grammy nominations and one win for “Once More With Feeling,” featuring Doc Severinsen and the Tonight Show Band. Amherst Records has the rights to albums by Lous Armstrong, Doc Severinsen, and Spyro Gyra, to name a few.

Record Theatre and New York Marketing

New York Marketing would like to thank Record Theatre for allowing us to help out with their closing sale. From social media to printed signs, we’ve had a lot of fun helping with this project. That being said, we are also sad to see such a cultural milestone go. There will never be another store like Record Theatre, nor will one have the significant impact on the city of Buffalo and cities across the country as Record Theatre did.

At New York Marketing we understand how important your brand is to you. That is why we provide resources that will enhance your company’s look. From printing to website design, we work with you to meet your goals and develop your company’s brand.

Every company should continuously think of new ways to reinvent themselves. Rebranding is more than creating a new logo. You have to create a whole new image for yourself. It is like a makeover for your company. Once in a while, you need to reinvent yourself to become a better you. Rebranding is a normal thing that every company should undergo every 7-10 years. By doing this it shows that you are growing and committed to improving your business.

Does your business need re-branding?

You might be thinking, “Do I really need to rebrand my business?“. To answer this, you have to ask yourself a few more questions:

Is your brand targeting the right demographic? If not, this is a great way to improve who you want your audience to be. Tapping into a new demographic will keep your business moving forward and expanding. A perfect example of this is Pabst Blue Ribbon. In America, PBR is known as cheap beer for college students, but in China, it is a luxury whiskey. They expanded their demographic towards higher end customers in a new region and were more successful because of it.

Are you embarrassed to give people your business card or show them your website? Then you need to create a new image for your company. You should be proud of who you are. Having self-confidence in your brand will show your clients that you can be trusted. Now, you won’t need to explain to people why your website is outdated and take full advantage of the opportunity to flaunt your business.

Does your brand still represent who you are? Your business might have had a vision in mind when it first started, but then over time, you realized that you might not feel the same way anymore. It is common for a company to change their mission as they grow. Once this happens, you need to realign your brand so it can fit your new mission.

Are you moving forward with the current market? Sometimes you need to change your brand because of the current market situation. One day you might be in, but the next you’re out. Make sure that your brand is always up-to-date with the current market and trends.

Your current brand isn’t unique enough? Is your brand blending with others? Make sure that you stand out from all of your competitors so that people will easily remember your company.

Need help Rebranding? Look no further than New York Marketing! With customizable packaging to fit your needs, we will help you outshine your competition while building your online presence and brand awareness.